Photo: Chris Brinlee Jr.

Dubai relies on tourism for a hefty chunk of its income, and with its wide range of traditional souqs and upmarket super-malls, shopping tourism seems to be a big attraction.

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There is even a month-long shopping festival each January!

The city is almost one big play park, with aquariums and a dolphinarium, water parks such as Wild Wadi, the Dubai Zoo, the world's tallest tower in the form of the Burj Khalifa, the mock-up Heritage Village, and museums such as the Dubai Museum.

You can laze on the beach or take to the water, play golf, head into the desert for some dune-bashing, and even go skiing!

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Cities in United Arab Emirates